Close your eyes and relax into the world of fabulous facials. Here is the my spa guide to everything facial, from exactly what they are, how to book, what to do before and after, with some top tips too.
What is a facial?
A facial is a beauty treatment for your face. A basic level facial it generally includes cleansing, exfoliation, massage and a face mask.
Aside from these there are many, many variations that spas have to the basic facial. Some will use special equipment or special kinds of oils depending on what their take on a facial is and what your skin needs.
How do I decide which facial to book?
Choosing which facial to have from a spa’s menu can be really daunting. There are so many different kinds of facial providing different benefits to your skin. There will be ones for anti-ageing, ones for hydration, ones for young skin but the general aims of all of them are the same. They will all cleanse and nourish your skin leaving you with a brighter, more toned and youthful complexion. If in doubt the best way of deciding (aside from looking at the price and your budget!) is to call the spa to discuss your needs with them and ask for their recommendation.
A facial can take anywhere from 15 minutes to two hours, depending on which one you have and how many products and procedures they involve.
Types of facial:
The mini-facial:
A basic facial, generally a good pick me up for everyone’s skin. This type of facial lasts approx 30 minutes and usually includes cleansing and exfoliating, toning and a face mask.
The luxury / specialist / advanced facial:
A step up from the mini-facial. It will include treatments in addition to the basics of the mini-facial and will take more time and cost more than the mini-facial. It may include massage, extractions and possibly the use of some facial equipment.
The prescription facial:
This is a specialised facial where the therapist uses the consultation to find out about your skin type before drawing various product and techniques depending on your skin type and what you want to gain from the facial.
Signature facials:
Spas all have their signature facials which use their own products and incorporate their spa’s philosophy to give you a different experience from one you may have at another spa. All facials will consist of the same basic elements but the experience can be vastly different depending on the products and techniques used as well as the atmosphere that the spa creates for your facial.
What happens when I arrive for my facial?
The therapist will usually have a consultation with you about your skin type and about what you are hoping to get out of the facial. They will have some idea of this already from the type of facial you have booked. During the consultation the therapist may ask you to lie on the reclining chair or bed in the treatment room so that they can take a closer look at the condition of your skin using a brightly lit magnifying lamp. Using all this information the therapist will tailor the facial to your specific needs.
You will then be asked to change into a robe either in the treatment room or in the changing rooms before the therapist begins your facial to ensure that you are totally relaxed and cosy. You will usually be given an alice band to keep the hair off your face during the facial.
There isn’t any need to remove your makeup before the treatment as the therapist will begin the treatment by thoroughly cleansing your face anyway.
What happens after my facial is finished?
The therapist will let you know the facial has finished then they will leave the room and allow you to relax and take your time to come back down to earth and get dressed. It is very common for the therapist to tell you what products they have used on your face during the treatment. A good spa won’t push you to purchase these products but they will let you know that the products are there to be purchased. You are under no obligation to buy although your skin may feel so amazing that you can’t help yourself so watch your wallet!!
Top Tip:
Remember to bring make up with you or book to have your make up applied by the spa if you have an event directly after the facial or if you have to go back to work.
As with all spa treatments you should always advise the spa if you have any allergies or if you may be pregnant so they can ensure the treatment and products used are suitable for you.
